Brains and Brawn Blog

Most students and families are aware that they need to have good grades, be involved in extracurriculars, and get good test scores to go to their choice college. However, one often overlooked factor is showing demonstrated interest. Demonstrated interest is essentially showing colleges you’re enthusiastic or have an interest in their school before you even send in your application. As college admissions get more competitive each year, particularly at selective universities, it’s in your best interest to do everything you can to increase your chances of getting into your dream school. The following are some ways that you can start showing demonstrated interest:

By: Isabel Sipkema, Biology and Educational Studies at Rhodes College ‘22

The ACT and SAT are two of the most common standardized tests for college admissions. One of the things we stress at Brains and Brawn is choosing the right test for you! Everyone’s different, so some students may do better on one test than the other. The best way to figure which one works best for you is to take a practice test from each test and then compare your scores and how you felt about each one. However, the information below can be helpful if you’re in crunch for time or are just curious about what makes the ACT unique. 

ACT Science is probably the most dreaded section on any standardized test. It is unlike any other section or exam that you have taken before. But with good study practices and employing a few special tactics, it can easily become the easiest for you.

Some tips and information that will help with the process of how to ask teachers to write recommendations for you

Unsure if you should take the SAT/ACT writing or not? Read this article to figure out what you should do!

The ACT and SAT are both timed standardized tests used for college admissions, so it’s really important to know how long you can afford to spend per question. Knowing the timing differences between the two tests can also be one factor you consider when choosing the right one for you. Additionally, make sure you do timed practice tests so you can work on time management and managing stress on the actual exam.   

A debrief on how test anxiety inhibits our performance and how breathing interventions before or during a test can recenter our focus 

Taking a test soon? Find out tips for what you should do so that you can be prepared. 

Now that many of you are nearing the end of junior year, it is nearly time to think about college applications and how we will begin preparing for the beginning of senior year. It is extremely important to get ahead of college applications and this is why I have a 3-pronged approach to getting ahead before it is time to apply to schools.